Obstetrician-gynecologist, lecturer at the Tyumen Midwifery and Feldsher School. Participant of the Great Patriotic War. Honored Doctor of the RSFSR.

He was born into a priest’s family; his mother worked as a hospital matron. From April 1919, after graduating from the Faculty of Medicine at Tomsk University, Ivan Karelin worked as a resident physician at a military hospital, and from February 1920, as a regimental military doctor in the Red Army.

After demobilization, he worked at the Nevyansk District Hospital in Sverdlovsk Region and in the town of Irbit as a medical inspector and head of the district hospital in Tavda.

Since 1936, I. S. Karelin lived and worked permanently in Tyumen. Before the Great Patriotic War, he served as the chief physician of Maternity Hospital No. 1, head of the City Health Department, and lecturer at the Tyumen Feldsher and Midwifery School.

On June 26, 1941, I. S. Karelin was appointed head of Sorting Evacuation Hospital No. 1500. Under his leadership, the hospital functioned with exceptional precision, successfully handling enormous workloads.

After the death of his 18-year-old son in battle near Moscow, Ivan Sergeyevich, deeply affected by the loss, could not remain in the rear. He submitted a report requesting reassignment and was sent to the front. From November 1942 to October 1946, he served as head of the Medical Department with the 70th Army of the 1st Belorussian Front.

For his dedicated service during the war, I. S. Karelin was awarded the Order of the Red Star, two Orders of the Patriotic War, and medals “For the Liberation of Warsaw,” “For the Capture of Berlin,” and “For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945.” He also received 17 commendations from the Supreme Commander-in-Chief for his participation in combat operations.

In November 1946, he returned to Tyumen and worked as the chief physician of Maternity Hospital No. 1 (the only one in the city). From 1951, he served as head of the City Health Department.

As the population of Tyumen grew, construction of Maternity Hospital No. 2 began in 1953, and even during its building stage, I. S. Karelin was appointed chief physician. He held this position until 1960.

Declining health forced Ivan Sergeyevich to retire at age 65. However, unable to remain idle, he periodically returned to teaching at the Tyumen Medical School whenever his condition allowed.

GAUZ TO “Hospital for War Veterans” [Electronic resource] URL: https://gdvov.ru/company/ (Accessed: 03.11.2025)
Faces of Victory – Tyumen Medical College! // Victory Museum [Electronic resource] URL: https://historydepositarium.ru/public_search/person/?id=865164 (Accessed: 04.11.2025)